🍷 Europe

• 🎨Street Musicians by William H. Johnson

  William H. Johnson's vibrant art captures the essence of street musicians, blending folk influences with expressionist techniques.

• 🎬Two clichés make us laugh. A hundred clichés move us

  Eco explores how _Casablanca_ transcends clichés to unveil narrative power and emotional depth.

• 🛋️We’ll always have HOVÅS

  Here's a clever mix of comfort and creativity in urban space with IKEA's ad campaign in the Paris Metro.

• 🎶A graphical analysis of national anthem lyrics

  My quest to learn "La Marseillaise" led me to explore the curious and often violent lyrics of national anthems from around the world.

• ⛪An archipelago of churches, one pebble at a time

  An incredible account of a unique tradition in Montenegro's Bay of Kotor, where devotion and geology intertwine through the art of throwing stones into the sea.

• 🍂Agate snuff bottle, China, 19th century

  Reflecting on the intriguing history and artistry of antique Chinese snuff bottles.

• 🥕Are carrots protestant?

  Exploring the colorful history of our adored carrots reveals a blend of agriculture and politics.

• 📞You had me at 'hello'

  An exploration of how the word "hello" transcended technology and culture through the evolution of telephonic communication.

• 🍈Forbidden fruits, delightful longings

  A longing for the elusive mangosteen explores its history and the bittersweet nature of desire.

• 🛋️Grace between the cushions - A love letter to my college couch

  Reflecting on the whimsical experience of living with a couch, found in the trash, that became a focal point for creativity and nostalgia during college years.

• 🧽Patience and fortitude

  Reflecting on Brother Lawrence's mindfulness in everyday tasks, like dishwashing, and the beauty of simplicity in our routine.

• ✋Not all thumbs

  This study reveals how counting gestures differ across cultures, particularly between Germans and Canadians.

• 🎭The dude uniform

  Observing the curious fashion choices of Mumbai's men, I couldn't help but notice the striking contrast in style between the genders.

• 🇱🇧Food flags

  A delightful exploration of national cuisines represented as flags, showcasing Lebanon's specialties among other global favorites.

• 🫒Two things you’ve never considered drinking before, but may want to now

  An exploration of unique culinary gems, from unexpected olive oil vendors to cherished Filipino restaurants.

• 🖼️Gold Rush, by Francesca Gabbiani

  Francesca Gabbiani's work captivates with its rococo naturalism and reflective voids, echoing themes found in circular panoramic photography.

• ✍️Beach calligraphy by Andrew van der Merwe

  South African calligrapher Andrew van der Merwe showcases his unique sand carving technique on a Belgian beach.

• 📚Moby Dick, a book about computers

  Exploring the whimsical errors in Google Books' categorizations reveals unexpected connections in literature.

• 🎨So many different kinds of lines

  This exhibition beautifully showcases the informal yet profound artistic expressions of the Middle Ages.

• 🎨An Astronaut’s Journey, by Alan Bean

  Reflecting on the intersection of art and space exploration, I discovered the vibrant works of Alan Bean, a moonwalker turned painter.

• 📜Fourth century Bible goes digital

  A celebration of the cultural preservation efforts at the monastery on Mt. Sinai, highlighting the digitization of the Codex Sinaiticus, the oldest existing copy of the Bible.

• 🎨Man on Flying Machine, by Yinka Shonibare

  Yinka Shonibare's captivating sculptures challenge notions of race and class through the lens of historical European fashion and contemporary African identity.

• 🗺️U.S. states as nations of equal population, map by James Richards

  A fascinating map combining US states and countries of equal population, perfect for a July 4 reflection from Culture-Making.com's curators.

• 🍷Great wine, but what’s it taste like?

  A thought-provoking perspective on the complex nature of sensory experiences by Robin Goldstein.

• 🌊One works and works for something, which then happens of its own accord

  Reflecting on the nature of political transformation and the interplay of effort and grace, Weschler captures the essence of spontaneous uprising in his writings.

• 📝Into the scrum

  From Ethan Zuckerman, a reflection on the power of grassroots blogging and community storytelling.

• 🐍São Paulo, Brazil, by Carlos Cazalis

  Exploring the Minhocão, a unique elevated expressway in São Paulo, transformed into a vibrant public space on Sundays.

• 🙏Merci

  A beautiful exploration of faith and gratitude captured in tiles at a Catholic shrine in France.

• 🏠Case Study Home, by Peter Bialobrzeski

  Exploring the unique blend of traditional architecture and impermanent structures in the Baseco compound, showcasing the resilience of community spirit.

• 🌐Babel undone

  The transformative journey of a biblical story through many languages.

• 🎸Monastic fantastic

  A look at the Monks, a groundbreaking band that fused punk music with monastic aesthetics in the '60s.

• 📜The Lucca Choirbook

  An astonishing tale of cultural recycling and musical rediscovery, all thanks to musicologists like Reinhard Strohm.

• 🌍Just foreign enough

  Exploring the vital role of translation amidst cultural exchange and linguistic nuances.

• 📼Nuovo cinema Paradiso

  A tale of culture preservation as an Italian town intervenes to save a beloved New York video rental store from closure.

• 🏞️The noisy, crowded past

  Reflecting on the contrasts of solitude and noise throughout human history, Alan Jacobs looks into the complexities of personal space.

• 📹¿Por qué ser Carmelita Descalza?

  A unique strategy by a historic convent in Spain to attract new novices through social media. The Barefoot Carmelite nuns of Ecija have turned to YouTube to share their way of life in a modern way.

• 👑Every man a king

  Wu Tingfang shares a compelling perspective on the title of the American president, advocating for a change to "Emperor" to elevate the position and reflect its true significance.

• 📺Six continents’ worth of static

  An exploration of the chaotic and diverse world of satellite TV in Jordan.

• 🧩Crosstown crosswords

  A creative urban project in Lvov, Ukraine turns a blank building face into an interactive crossword puzzle for both locals and visitors.

• 🍚Eating and absorbing a technological tradition

  This excerpt from Francesca Bray highlights how cultural objects and practices can embody profound meanings through the technologies involved in their production, particularly in the context of Japan's agricultural traditions.

• 🎄Sinatra songs and the Salve Regina

  A sublime cultural moment captured in Walker Percy’s reflection on Christmas, blending the everyday with the transcendent.

• 🎨Ontbijtje, by Robert Amesbury

  I had the joy of witnessing Rob's artistic journey as he melds old Dutch traditions with contemporary visual culture.

• ✍️Copies

  A celebration of beautifully handcrafted French signage, showcasing its unique charm and artistry.

• 🧀Cheese and ashes

  Reflecting on a memorable cheese experience shared with a friend, especially highlighting Morbier's unique features and flavor.

• 🌾Between common and professional

  An insightful exploration of the interplay between tradition and innovation in the shaping of North America's landscape by early European settlers.

• 🦃Wild Turkey, by John James Audubon

  Audubon's art often required his subjects to be hunted first, illustrating a complex relationship between nature and preservation.

• 🪦The dead among us

  A reflection on how North America lacks the same cultural coexistence with the dead that can be found in European cities, particularly regarding London’s plague pits.

• 🪞Crazy in the same way?

  This analysis dives into how psychotic delusions are influenced by the cultural context of their times, reflecting societal anxieties and technologies.

• 🤪You don’t have to be Russian, but it helps

  An exploration of the rich tradition of holy fools in both Western and Eastern Christianity, particularly highlighting the unique manifestations in Russia.

• 🌍A breath wafted from Paradise over the human world

  An exploration of how spices from foreign lands captivated the imagination of Medieval Europeans.